Troy Deeney predicts West Ham United fans to turn on Julen Lopetegui
Troy Deeney believes that the West Ham fans could turn on Julen Lopetegui if he does not enjoy a good start to life at the club.
The Spaniard is expected to take charge at the London Stadium with David Moyes leaving at the end of the season.
However, Deeney believes that the first ten games could be crucial in winning over the support of the fanbase.
He wrote in the Sun on 17 May when asked which team he thinks will struggle next season: “As it stands, I would say West Ham. They’re expected to bring in Lopetegui and he has got to change so much — philosophy, style — and that is going to take time.
“If the Hammers do not show us something in those first ten games, the fans will quickly turn and the man in the hot seat could be in trouble and pay the price.”
Julen Lopetegui has to transform the style of play at West Ham
Deeney’s concern for Lopetegui at the London Stadium is rooted in the club’s history of impatience with new managers and the significant changes the Spaniard is expected to bring.
The former Real Madrid boss, renowned for his tactical acumen and success at clubs like Sevilla, faces a significant challenge in transforming West Ham’s style of play and winning over a fanbase that has shown scepticism about his appointment.
This is partly due to his relatively brief and turbulent tenure at Wolves, which ended abruptly before the start of the 2023/24 season.
However, it’s also a reflection of the high expectations and impatience that can characterise football fans when their club is not performing to their standards.
To win over the Irons fans, Lopetegui will need to deliver early victories and demonstrate a clear, positive change in the team’s style of play.
A strong start to the season would not only help him secure the support of the fans but also buy him time to implement his philosophy and strategies more deeply into the team.
If he can achieve this, he will likely gain the goodwill and patience of the fans, even when the team faces tougher challenges.
In other West Ham news, the wife of a Hammers player has potentially stirred up a controversy with her recent comments on social media accusing the club of bias.
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